No, it is not recommended to give cough syrup to children under the age of 6. Instead, you can try a helpful technique using a syringe (without a needle) and saline or distilled water to help reduce coughing. The amount of water to use may vary depending on the child's age. Using this technique a few times a day for the first couple of days and then reducing to twice a day can often lead to a significant improvement in symptoms within 48 hours.